Kimberly and I left the White Mountains and headed north and west to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite's high country. Here we are at Olmsted Point, with a view to Half Dome!
The granite cliffs and pines are spectacular! © Kimberly Barnett
Using my 200mm telephoto lens, I looked at Half Dome. What an incredible view! Being terrified of great heights, I'll never get up there, but maybe Kimberly will someday. Kim's Aunt Cindy sat on the very edge at the top, her feet dangling down to the valley floor below. Crazy!
Tree on the granite dome at Olmsted Point. © Kimberly Barnett
Here's Tenaya Lake, where we ate a picnic lunch. Many folks were swimming here, enjoying the high Sierra sun and sparkling water. © Kimberly Barnett
After lunch, Kimberly and I went on a hike along the John Muir Trail, following and crossing the Dana Fork and the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River.
I think it took us about 45 minutes to walk a few tenths of a mile because we kept stopping to go off the trail and look at the incredible colors of the river! © Kimberly Barnett
The water was so clear and the stones underneath were such pretty textures and colors! © Kimberly Barnett
We could've stayed here even longer, enjoying the color and sound of the water, the sight of the splash and flow of the river, the scent of the pines.
This was an interesting little hole sculpted out in the granite by the water. It was filled with tiny bubbles and the water poured in and swirled.
Another view.
Yes, indeed! I was fascinated by this little hole, wasn't I?
In fact, I loved every part of this river, watching the streams of water dip and curve and swirl around the hard granite. What great country this is!
Here's where we crossed the Lyell Fork of the river. Upstream were families with kids tubing in the cold river. To the left were a couple of adults, standing in waist deep water. I was tempted to put my feet in but that was all.
The river flowed along different paths around the granite boulders, making little cascades here and there. Very beautiful.
Here you can see some kids floating in inner tubes further up the river. It was broad and at most knee-deep up where they were. Looked and sounded like they were having the times of their lives! It was such fun to watch.
I pose by a twisted tree along the trail. © Kimberly Barnett
Ah, this is the life! Beautiful scenery, fresh air, warm sun! © Kimberly Barnett
Kimberly and I dipped our tootsies into the water, but couldn't keep them there too long. It was cold!
Use your imagination to see and hear that flowing water. Feel the water splashing, feel the warm sun and cool breezes, smell the pines.
This mule train passed near us.
Pretty ripples and pebbles in the river.
This sure would be a nice place to spend a whole afternoon! Ahhhh!
This is back at camp -- spot C21 in Tuolumne Campground. Behind us was a dry creek filled with flowers and green grasses. We had a really nice family camping nearby too -- we shared a pot to cook their pasta with them, they shared hot coffee with me in the morning!
The next day we headed up to the May Lake trailhead a bit beyond Olmsted Point. It is about a 1.2 mile hike, climbing up 500' to the lake on an easy trail. © Kimberly Barnett
There were little meadows here and there, and Kim took a picture of shooting stars that were growing in one of them. © Kimberly Barnett
We climb a little higher, and look what we can see in the distance!
Beautiful flowers grew in niches in the granite. The trail switchbacks up the mountain in back to May Lake. © Kimberly Barnett
This well-built trail has granite stairways in some of the steeper sections. © Kimberly Barnett
Kimberly starts up the steps.
Look, Mom! It's Half Dome!
I handed Kimberly my camera to take a shot of me there too. I didn't know she had been snapping shots of me all along... © Kimberly Barnett
May Lake! There is a High Sierra camp with tent cabins up here on one side of the lake. Pretty luxurious way to enjoy this higher country.
Mt. Hoffman (10,850') towers above May Lake (9,229'). Mt. Hoffman is considered to be the geographical center of Yosemite National Park. Another hiker offered to take our picture.
We walked around the lake, looking for a good lunch picnic stop. The color of the water changed from deep blue to teal to light aqua, depending on the angle of the sun on the lake. Quite magical. © Kimberly Barnett
Above the lake we walked on a trail through a lush meadow of flowers and grasses. © Kimberly Barnett
We retraced our steps to head toward the western side of the lake that was more calm, and headed for a rocky outcropping above the lake for our picnic.
Here's our lunch spot -- could not have been more pretty, do you think?
Hi, Kimberly! Can you pull out a piece of teriyaki jerky for me from your backpack, please?
We both went a little crazy taking pictures of the lake.
© Kimberly Barnett
We drove back down to the main road from the trailhead parking lot, and spent a few minutes exploring the pretty stream and meadow area. © Kimberly Barnett
These orange lilies caught my eye, and Kimberly's too, so she took a picture! © Kimberly Barnett
